Extension table



T. E. M FALL EXTENSION TABL E April 4, 1939.

Filed April 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A rii 4, 1939.

T. E. McFALL EXTENSION T'ABLE Filed April 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 40 Figs. 2 and 5.

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 v UNITED 5 STATES".

IPATENT OFFICE 2,153,262 o EXTENSION TABLE minnow EJMcramsnai-ta, Mich, assignor to Michigan Artcraft Company, Sparta, Mich, a corporation ofMichigan Application iprii 20, 1938, Serial No. 203.088 8 Claims. (cl. 811-67) This invention relates to extension tables and is concerned witha novel structure whereby a table is produced which in its collapsed condition occupies but little space, but which can be ex- 5 tended to any desired distance within reasonable limits for use as a dining room table, and when collapsed occupying no more than substantially one-half of the space which it occupies when in its smallest extended position.

The invention consists of novel structure by means of which the table can beextended and when extended is stably supported. At the same time the table structure is strong and durable. An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is aside view of the table in its smallest or collapsed condition.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation illustrating the first step of movement in extending the table.

ceeding step.

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the table extended. v,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan 'view illustrating or during the first step'of its extension.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken substan Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the structure as in the position shown in Fig. 2 and of a modified form from that which is illustratedin said Like-reference characters refer to like parts in the difi'erent figures of the drawings. or In the construction of the table a top member I is permanently securedt-o a table frame member having spaced apart sides 2 with an end member 3 extending between them adjacent their front edges,, the adjacent edges of the frame members 2 and l'having connection. to vertical front supporting legs 4. In conjunction with the 0 front part of the table thus described, is -a rear part which has a bottom 5 connected to the lower edges of two 'side members 6 and to a rear end frame member I, the adjacent edges-of the frame members 6 and I being connected to rear 55 vertical legs 8 in the same manner that the parts Fig. 31s a like view illustrating the next sucthe table at substantially the position in Fig. 2,

2 and I are connected to thefron't legs 4. The side frame members 6 are located so as to move within the side frame members 2 of the first described section of the table. Extension slides. are disposed between thetwo sections of the table consisting of fixed bars 8 and I0, one at each side of the table and securedrespectively, the bars 9 .to the bottom 5-and in contact with the end members- 6, and with the bars l0 secured to the under side of the top member lot the first described section. The intermediate slides II are A narrow top member I! in the collapsed posi- -tion of the table, shown in Fig'. 1, thetop member i3 extends over bothtopmembers i and i2 and completely coversthem as shown.

A slide it is permanently secured at one end to theupper side of the bottom 5. It is slidably connected with guides which consist of two side bars i8 and a cover il (Fig. 6). This guide structure is secured at its rear portion to the under side of the narrow top member l2. Alocking catch i 8 similar to that which is used wi sliding windows passes through one of the sid guides i6 and at its inner end may enter a recess in the side of the bar l5 (Fig. 5) to normally hold the top member H in afixed position, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with respect to the rear section of the table comprised of thebottom 5, sides 6 and ends -'I; but by withdrawing the catch IS, the top member it, with the attached guides i6, ILmay. be moved to a forward position, as in Fig. 3 or 4.

With a table as thus constructed and in the position where it occupies'the smallest space, as in Fig. 1, to extend the table the upper top member I3 is lifted at its free forward edge and thereupon the forward section of the table is moved by extending the slides II, as in Fig, 2, the-top member l2 remaining at its rear position by reason of the lock provided'by the locking catch 18. After the front section of the table has been at I! is withdrawn, and then the upper table top member i3, with the narrow member i2 hinged thereto is moved forward as illustrated in Fig. 3, the guides l8, l1 moving forward on the bar I5. Thefinal step is to swing the upper top member ll over to horizontal position as in Fig. 4 and close any gaps which may exist between the front top member I and the narrow intermediate member I2. It will be evident that if desired the table may be further extended, the narrow top member l2 "spaced from the rear edge of the front top section i, and within such space ordinary table leaves may be inserted so as to make a still greater extension of the table. The rear top member IS, in Fig. 4, will extend a distance beyond the rear supporting legs 8, but the center ,of gravity of the table as a whole will be in front of the rear legs 8 so that the table is stable and will not readily tip.

In order to support the central portion of the table when it is extended, and particularly when it is extended by the use of additional table leaves, a cross bar i9, Figs. 5 and 6, is connected at its ends to the lower sides of one of the extension slide members ii, at each side of the table, as best shown in Fig. 5. Foldable legs are pivotally connected at their upper ends at 2i by suitable brackets to the under side of the bar i9 and may be dropped down to vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, to give additional support to the central part of the table.

In Fig. 8 instead of the narrow top member i2 being connected to a movable guide member l8, II, it is secured by suitable fastenings shown at 22, 'to the rear ends of intermediate slides ll of the table slide construction. This structure is an equivalent generally of the guiding structure It,

. i6 and I1 shown inFig. 6.

' Ila and lta the former within the latter. The guide members Ila and its are of identical structwo, being merely reversed in position, the inner members iia being secured to the bottom member 5 and the outer guide members lie at their end portions to the narrow top member i2.

In Fig. 9-instead of the narrow table top member I 2 being connected to a movable slide such as shown at l6, ii in Fig.6, it is connected pivotally to one end of parallel links 23, the other ends having pivotal connection by means of a plate 24 to'the upper side of the bottom member 5. In this case, the movement of the narrow top member l2 instead of being a straight forward movement, as in moving from the position in I Fig. 2 to that in Fig. 3, is an arcuate movement controlled by the parallel links 23 as they are swung about their lower pivots to the left.

The construction described permits the extension of a table which in its collapsed condition occupies relatively small space, in fact not over half of what the table has when it is at its minimum extended position as inFig. 4; and of course the table 'can be still further extended beyond what is shown in Fig. 4 by the use of additional table leaves. The stability of the table and the strengthof construction which can be attained when made as described, with the ability to occupy small space, make this table very practical and serviceable. It has particular utility in those cases where room in'a house or, apartment is at a premium. For the table needs to occupy its extended position only during the few short in- 75 of the day at meal times, and all of the othertimes occupy a minimum of space as shown in Fla. 1.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a table, two extensible frame sections having supporting legs at their outer portions, a

- top member permanently secured over one of said sec ions, a second narrow top member movably mounted with respect to the second section and adapted to be moved to the outer portion thereof when the extensible sections are brought together, or inwardly against the edge of the permanent top member when said sections are extended, and a third top member hingedly connected to the narrow top member and movable therewith and adapted to be swung in one position to cover both .of the other top members, or at the other position to lie in the same horizontal plane therewith and be supported by the second of said extensible frame sections, as specified.

2. In a table, a front and; a rear frame section,

between said top and bottom, a second. relatively narrow top member located over the rear supporting legs when said sections are in non-extended position, and a third top member hingedly connected to the rear edge of the second top member and having a width equal to the width of the first and second top members and adapted to cover the same when said frame sections are in non-extended position, said narrow top member adapted to be moved rearwardly with the rear legs when the sections are extended and be returned to its original position adJacent said first named to section leaving said legs in the rearward extended position.

3, In a table, a front extensible table section having side frame members and an end frame member, atop located thereover and permanently secured thereto, front legs located adjacent the front corners of said top and extending vertically downwardly, a rear table section having spaced apart side members, a rear end member at opposite sides of the table above said bottom and below said permanently secured top member and connected thereto, whereby the two table sections may be telescoped together or extended withrespect to each other, a second narrow top member normally located over the rear end frame member and the upper ends of the rear legs, means for movably mounting said narrow top member for movement'in a forward or rearward direction on and with respect to the rear table section, and a third top member'h-lngedly connected to the rear edge of the second and narrow top member. and having'a width equal to the combined widths of'the first and second to members.

4. A construction containing the elements in' combination defined in claim 3, combined with means for releasably securing the second and narrow top member to the rear table section whereby upon extending said sections with respect to each other said second and narrow top to the rear table section, being thereafter released and moved forwardly, and then the third and upper top member hingedly turned to the rear.

5. In a table, two extensible sections with table slides therebetween movable toward or away from each other to collapse or extend the table, a top member permanently secured over one of said sections, a bottom permanently secured to the other 01' said sections in a plane below said top member, a second and narrow top member over the second of said sections movable with said bottom away from said first named top member, parallel links pivotally connected at their ends respectively to said bottom and to said second and narrow top member, whereby said second top member can be returned to its original position when the sections are extended, and a third top member hingedly connected to the outer edge of said second and narrowv top member, the width of said third top member equalling the combined width of the other two top members.

6. In a table, a front and rear frame section. thefront section having supporting legs at its forward end and the rear section at its rear end, a top member permanently secured over the front section. a bottom permanently secured at the lower side of the rear section, extensible slides between said top and bottom, a second relatively narrow top member located over the rear supporting legs when said sections are in non-extended position, a third top member hingedly connected to the rear edge of the second top member and having a width equal to the width of the first and second top members and adapted to cover the same when said frame sections are in non-extended position, and means for maintaining said second top member in fixed relation relative to the rear extensible section of the table on moving the front section of the table forwardly for extension, said means being operable after the sections have been extended svith'respect to each other for movement of the second top member forwardly toward the first and permanently secured top member.

7'. In a table, a front and rear frame section, the front section having supporting legs at its forward end and the rear section at its rear end,

a top member permanently secured over the front section, a bottom permanently secured at the lower side of the rear section, extensible slides between said top and bottom, a second relatively narrow top member located over the rear supporting legs when said sections are in non-extended position, a third top member hingedly connected to the rear edge of the second top member and having a width equal to the width of the first and second top members and adapted to cover the same when said frame sections are in non-extended position, a. bar permanently secured. to said bottom, guides slidably associated with said bar and secured to said second top member, and means for releasably securing guides to said bar.

8. The combination of elements defined in claim 6, said means including a bar permanently secured to said bottom, guides slidably associated with said bar and secured to said second top member, and means for releasably securing said guides to said bar.

THURLOW E. McFALL. 

